In Mother, both Lloyd and his father are first encountered hiding in trash cans, although Loid is the one of the two to leave their hiding spot. Another trash can appears in Sweet Little's Factory, containing an unlimited amount of Bottle rockets.

Trash cans appear frequently in EarthBound (most common in urban areas, factories, and sewers), carrying a wide range of items or sometimes a "pile of useless junk". The overworld sprites of the Putrid Moldyman and Smelly Ghost resemble the sprite used for Trash Cans, although a character approaching it makes the normally stationary enemy move.